Defense Legislation and Communal Politics: The Evolution of a White South African Nation as Reflected in the Controversy over the Assignment of Armed Forces Abroad, 1912-1976

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In many ways the defense posture of a state (which may, of course, be aggressive) stands as hard evidence of its ruling elite's self-image and perception of its territorial mission. As a component of foreign policy, defense policy may also be viewed as instrumental to domestic configurations of power. Thus it is the purpose of this paper to examine various features of South African defense legislation as they have evolved since 1912. It will also discuss them in the context of the gradual emergence of a relatively united white "nation . . ."